Liverpool have been advised to consider a shock swoop for Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino as the Jurgen Klopp era nears its end. Klopp is facing his final six matches at the helm at Anfield.

Failure to reverse their fortunes from the first leg against Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday night would mean Liverpool's focus shifts solely to the Premier League race, where they and Arsenal are just two points adrift of the new frontrunners Manchester City, with only six games remaining in the season.

As speculation continues over who will succeed Klopp, who led Liverpool to their seventh major trophy in nine years with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final in February, Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim is considered the favourite to take over. However, former Liverpool and Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has expressed his doubts.

Johnson suggests that Liverpool should consider the man Klopp recently defeated at Wembley. Speaking to Betfred, Johnson said: "I don't know a great deal about him (Amorim) but result-wise, he's clearly doing a brilliant job at Sporting Lisbon. However, I'm concerned for anyone that has to fill Jurgen Klopp's shoes.

"I'm sure that Liverpool will have successful managers again in the future, but to immediately follow Jurgen is a tough job. Anyone who goes there now has a very uphill job to do. It doesn't matter who you are, it's going to be a tough job."

Johnson believes that Liverpool should look towards former Tottenham boss Pochettino, whose Chelsea team can keep a difficult season alive by beating holders Manchester City in the first of this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals.

"Even though I've said that Jurgen Klopp will be a tough act to follow, any manager that comes in will be inheriting a great squad and it will be an improvement in terms of player quality than any candidate would have had at their disposal previously," Johnson said.

"I know people will think that I'm absolutely mad, but Mauricio Pochettino is a big name that can go into that job and grab everyone's attention. That would excite people despite what's happened at Chelsea this season because I don't believe what's gone on there is Mauricio's fault.

"You don't become a bad manager overnight and if he inherited that Liverpool squad, then I believe he could do good things at Anfield."

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